A press release from Jim Tobin:
Taxpayers Revolt Against Illinois State Senate Income Tax Hike
CHICAGO — Illinois taxpayers, hammered by some of the highest state and local taxes in the nation, are increasingly venting their anger and frustration toward the State Senate and House Democrats who hold the state in their death-grip, notes Jim Tobin, President of Taxpayers United of America (TUA).
Jim Tobin talks in Christ the King Church in Wonder Lake against a MvHenry High School tax hike referendum.
“The Democrats in the State Senate just voted to raise the already-high state personal income tax from 3.75 percent to 4.95 percent, a 32 percent increase.
“They also voted to raise the state corporate rate to 9.5 percent,” said Tobin.
“These tax increases would be retroactive to January 1.
“All 32 Democrat Senators voted for the increases. Not a single Republican supported these job-killing tax increases.”
“No wonder Illinois has lost more residents than any other state for the third consecutive year.
“And Chicago, the most corrupt city in the nation, was the only city of the nation’s 20 largest cities to lose population in 2016.”
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that taxpayers blasted notorious tax-raiser, State Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-40, Chicago Heights), who helped pass the income tax increase in the senate.
“You dirt bags stop screwing the taxpayers,” posted one person on Facebook.
Another taxpayer commented, “Keep your grubby hands off our tax money you crook.”
“How dare you raise my taxes in this corrupt state. You are ruining people’s lives with your tax and spend ways,” wrote another angry taxpayer.
“Now the state income tax increases go to the State House of Representatives, controlled by Chicago machine boss Michael Madigan (D-22, Chicago).
“Hopefully, Madigan will come to his senses and kill this fiscally-suicidal measure in the house,” said Tobin.
“And if not, we trust that Gov. Rauner (R) will do the right thing and veto the income tax hike.”
“Illinois is bankrupt due to the huge deficits of its government-employee pension funds. It is too late for the state to tax itself out of this predicament. Puerto Rico recently declared bankruptcy, and it looks more and more like this is the only salvation for Illinois.”
All to many of Illinois overtaxed residents are too ill-educated to
understand that they are being held as political hostages by the DEMOCRATS who are
being forced to self-funding their own financial demise.
The remainder have already departed or are planning to do so in
order to protect their wealth.
I hope to be one of the fortunate to flee at some time in the coming future
before the millions of Boomers retire and flee the state taking their hard earned
wealth with them.
Time is of the essence for us.
I am fleeing in 2 years when I retire!
I wish I can do it sooner.
Mr. Tobin is referring to Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) in the 100th General Assembly.
The State Senate passed SB 9 on May 23, 2017.
The bill is now awaiting action in the State House.
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Here is the website for TUA:
http://www.TaxpayersUnitedOfAmerica.org
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On May 10th, 2017 TUA released their 11th Annual Pension report that included information on the 5 “State” pension funds plus IMRF.
Listed were the 16,714 pensions over $100,000 for those 5 pension systems (Illinois has 19 public sector pension systems, plus CHA, and two of those pension systems, Downstate Police & Downstate Fire, are actually 657 pension funds – one for each participating police department, fire department, and fire protection district).
The Top pension in each of the 6 pension systems included in the report:
SURS – $581,227.
State University Retirement System.
University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), a retired doctor
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TRS – $321,444.
Teachers Retirement System.
Lincoln Way High School District 210 (Will County), a retired Superintendent.
Lincoln Way’s attendance area includes New Lenox, Frankfort, Mokena, Manhattan, and small portions of Tinley Park & Orland Park.
Effective this year the district closed on of its 4 high schools, Lincoln Way North High School in Frankfort.
The school had just opened in 2008, the result of a $225M referendum.
Edgar County Watchdogs has extensive reporting of problems in this school district.
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IMRF – $315,118.
Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund.
CGH Medical Center (Sterling, IL in Whiteside County), a retired President / CEO.
IMRF covers county and local employees excluding the City of Chicago and Cook County.
Municipalities, park districts, library districts etc. in Cook County are included in IMRF…the county itself and Cook County Forest Preserve District have separate pension funds.
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GARS – $242,904.
General Assembly Retirement System
First was a State Representative, then a State Senator, (76th – 91st General Assemblies), then worked a few years as a legislative policy adviser with Chicago Public Schools (Chicago Board of Education) and as such contributed to the MEABF pension system.
Reciprocal credits allowed his higher salary with Chicago Public Schools to be included in his starting pension calculation.
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JRS – $216,511. A retired judge.
Judges Retirement System.
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SERS – $213,851.
State Employees Retirement System.
Those contributing to SERS also contribute to Social Security, so receive an SERS pension plus Social Security.
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Pensions, retiree healthcare (OPEB), and bonds are big contributors to tax hikes.
A note regarding the Lincoln way $225M referendum.
It was not for a single high school.
The $225M Lincoln Way referendum was for 2 new high schools and refurbishing existing facilities.
Here is one of many articles about the topic.
Daily Southtown / Chicago Tribune
Lincoln-Way Taxpayers owe $474M in Bond Debt
by Gregory Pratt
June 10, 2016
“Wyllie said at the time that he saw six schools in the district’s future, each full, totaling 17,000 students.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-lincoln-way-debt-bonds-st-0612-20160610-story.html
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That comment was made in 2008.
As of the 2016 – 2017 school year, the district has 3 high schools.
As of the 2015 – 2016 school year, the student enrollment was 7,110 per the Illinois Report Card (the most current year available on the report card at this time).
Jim Tobin of Taxpayers United knows taxes!
Tobin for Governor!